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'We believe that all Australians have the right to access all forms of media and information, through technology, so they can participate fully in society.'

Media Access Australia is Australia’s only independent not-for-profit organisation devoted to increasing access to media for people with disabilities.

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Latest News

  • Wednesday, 22 February 2012
     Television revealed for blind and vision impaired Australians

    The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) has just announced that Australia’s first audio description trial will be held on the ABC. The long-awaited announcement is a result of many years of advocacy by Media Access Australia and several disability organisations and is a step towards bringing Australia into line with international standards.

  • Tuesday, 21 February 2012
     Braille keyboard for iPhone developed

    Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed BrailleTouch, a prototype iPhone app that allows people who are blind or vision impaired to send text messages using an onscreen Braille keyboard.

  • Monday, 20 February 2012
     Windows 8 to come with enhanced accessibility

    Microsoft has announced a number of significant accessibility improvements to its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. This is further reassurance that the software giant has considered the needs of people with a disability in the development of its latest product.

  • Monday, 20 February 2012
     Social media research to be presented at global conference

    Dr Scott Hollier, Project Manager for Media Access Australia (MAA), will present his paper Social Media: a practical approach at the CSUN 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference in California.

  • Friday, 17 February 2012
     Accessibility Internet Rally a wrap, now on to the awards

    The Accessibility Internet Rally held in Austin over the weekend brought 21 professional web developers together with five not-for-profit organisations for eight hours of frenzied activity to build the best accessible website possible.

  • Friday, 17 February 2012
     Morocco’s film festival supports audio described movies

    For the second year running the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) has showcased audio described movies for its blind and vision impaired patrons. Featuring eight movies in total, from 1950s classics to local Moroccan productions, the described program is the first of its kind in Africa.

  • Thursday, 16 February 2012
     Proposed new Irish access rules provoke fierce criticism

    Controversy has erupted in Ireland over proposed changes to television access regulation. In December 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) launched a consultation process on new rules it is proposing regarding the levels of captioning, audio description and Irish sign language which broadcasters must provide. In their submissions to the consultation, Ireland’s access advocacy groups have been highly critical of some of the proposed changes.

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